Sunday has arrived and I hope you’re resting up for the week ahead. I actually got more than six hours sleep last night and now I feel like a large wheelbarrow was rested on top of me all night. Not good, so less sleep actually must agree with me it seems.

One small update on the blog is the comments system has again been revised as the previous one wasn’t functioning properly so hopefully this one will (hint…try it!). You should now be able to login to the comments section at the bottom of each post with your Facebook, Twitter, Google+1 or Disqus. Or you can just create single login. It will also allow you to upload images and link, share the comment, subscribe to them, rate them up or down and I think it can make a nice cup of tea for you if on a mobile device. Seriously though the comments are important to the blog, I like to hear what you think and as we’ve seen so many times the fountain of Clash related knowledge and opinions from the readership is exceptional. It also helps confirm I’m not just talking to myself, for once.

Speaking of contributions, if anyone would like to write a guest post for the blog of 250-1000 words about The Clash or something that you think will be of interest to the readers please do contact me as I’d love to include it.

I’m going to touch a taboo topic today because some people love it and others including me can’t think of many worse things in life. Last night for a friend’s birthday we went to a pub in the city to take part in their weekly karaoke night. Needless to say I didn’t get up and sing under the lights although they did have eight songs by The Clash in the hymn book. Come to think of it during the entire four plus hours I don’t think anyone sang a single song that I’d put on my ‘oh great’ list. Early on some chap who thought he was Billy Joel got up and sang Piano Man with well rehearsed aplomb. It’s only when you’re confronted with watching someone sing a song you don’t really care for that you realise how long said song is. No amount of beer was going to make this painless, I went outside and watched the rain and the meat market boys and girls wander in and out of the pub for their chance to be heard. People watching turned out to be the most rewarding part of the night, certainly more so than a succession of Billy Corgan, Pat Benatar, John Lennon and Adele wannabes.

The only time I was coerced into singing Karaoke it was The Clash and while not great it wasn’t much worse than what I witnessed last night. So I thought I’d seen what the wonders of YouTube would offer from around the world. I didn’t spend much time searching so you will probably find better version but here’s a few to enjoy or at least scrutinise, if you find better just add them in the comments.

Petra, Germany

Unknown lad, USA (I Fought The Law)

Group destruction of Rock The Casbah, USA

Richie sings Radio Clash, USA (at least he seems to know it)

Two Estonian lads go to Sweden, get drunk and then this happens

Teddy takes the Train in Vain to Barcelona

Saving the best to last and hopefully Spizz will forgive me for sharing this, complete with air guitar and mumbled lyrics. Stick around for his final four words though

I can’t any more at this point but I feel I’ve redressed the balance from last night somewhat. Sorry to be a grumpy bastard.

I once dared Johnny Green to do karaoke in his local pub one Saturday night years ago. He got up and did ‘I Fought The Law’ complete with a solo on the pencil (he could play it up against his teeth). His wife and I almost died with embarrassment!

I don’t tend to recall lines from 30 year old films that I saw once and the karaoke piece was more than a little tongue in cheek which you evidently missed. Get a job indeed, you condemn someone who writes as a hobby and yet come back for extra troll duty. Strange logic….

The piece is insulting to those who enjoy karaoke. That’s not trolling, is it? Didn’t expect you to know Stripes, it was not the point anyways. (when I looked earlier, the comment was not there, I thought you deleted it, my apologies). We’re done here. Enjoy your wannabe writing career. Someday maybe you’ll make the big leagues.